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'It’s very clear to me that all the assumptions, all the rules that governed campaigns previous to 2010 are out the window,' said Colorado Republican Party Chairman Dick Wadhams.

Simmons was approached about the Connecticut Senate race back in February 2009, when Sen. Chris Dodd was presumed to be the Democratic nominee. That was before former World Wrestling Entertainment CEO Linda McMahon promised to plow $50 million of her own money into a race. McMahon now leads in the polls, and the NRSC appears to be quietly warming to her candidacy, especially because as a self-funder, she could save the committee resources in the campaign homestretch.

“We have a good relationship with the NRSC and look forward to working with the committee as the nominee,” McMahon spokesman Shawn McCoy said when asked about the campaign’s relationship with the NRSC.

Connecticut GOP Chairman Chris Healy called McMahon “a product of the market” that emerged as the political landscape turned more favorable for Republicans. “The NRSC was doing what they’re supposed to do, which is encouraging people to run. There’s no question her entry was a surprise. That’s what makes our industry so fun.”

Wadhams notes that the mere appearance of the NRSC’s involvement in Colorado wounded GOP front-runner Jane Norton at the outset, when it appeared the committee had reserved several domain names for her campaign website. Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck was on the verge of pulling out of the race in August but said he was swayed by “hundreds” of e-mails and phone calls encouraging him to defy the NRSC’s wishes.

“Since then, they’ve been very uninvolved. They pulled back after that. I think committees and elected officials are going to find that they’re going to have to be much more careful about how they support candidates. The line they cannot cross is appearing to coronate a candidate. It’s a minefield to walk through,” Wadhams said.

There’s a good chance the primary election upheaval may not matter in the end, given the favorable political environment for GOP candidates and the resources of some of the insurgent candidates.

“One lesson of 2010 is, no one can control all the variables. No leader or committee can change the basic equation,” said Hunter Bates, a Kentucky GOP strategist who called 2010 “an embarrassment of riches” for Republicans.

Another reason that strategists, activists and donors don’t seem overly concerned about which candidate ultimately emerges is that polls show that, in most cases, even the upstart GOP contender remains in a prime position to defeat the Democratic nominee come November.

“The reality is that at the start of this cycle, many political analysts were predicting more GOP Senate losses and yet, 16 months later, we’re on offense in at least nine Democratic seats,” said NRSC communications director Brian Walsh.

“I think what you have is some aggressive primaries certainly, but with the exception of California, the Republican candidate is likely to win,” added Wayne Berman, a Washington-based GOP activist and donor who served as a senior adviser to George W. Bush’s presidential campaigns.

“From Cornyn’s view, he’s there to win seats. In the end, that’s the goal of the NRSC,” he said.

Readers' Comments (8)

Memo to Mr. Cornyn: We are SICK of the statist crapweasels that have infested the GOP for decades. People like Thad Cochran who has apparently never met an earmark that he couldn't embrace. People like Lindsey Graham(nesty). The NRSC also supported Arlen Specter. Are you kidding me? The twit behind all of these decisions is apparently a man named Mr. Jesmer. Well, until the poohbahs in the GOP stop with the earmarks, the caving to the Marxist agenda of Obama, the support for God-awful crap like cap'n'tax and amnesty and God knows what else, well, I'll send my money directly to Toomey and Rubio.

On topic, the GOP has a real chance to redefine themselves in the next few years, but it's not looking like the coming elections will provide any clear direction ("vote the bums" out is not a blueprint for political reorganization), particularly since there seems to be little ideological coherency to what is going on (i.e., Scott Brown). The Presidential primaries will be the real opportunity for self-definition for the party. A lot will depend on the quality of the candidates and the mood of the base. With the wrong pick, 2012 could be a repeat of 2004, with the parties' roles reversed.

The main point is that we are in a political war between socialism and capitalism and if we lose to the godless socialists who have brought us down then we are set to become a third world country.

Therefore the republican voters are no longer in lock step with their party, leaving lock step to the minorities who have no knowledge nor interest in our Constitution, but who elected Obama and who lean socialist and love his charisma and narcisisim. The conservative Americans support and defend the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, both of which some establishment republicans and virtually all democrats seem to underate, underplay, underteach and generally try to manipulate and abuse for power, influence, political gain, and re-election. These individuals are clearly known, by now, and are in trouble for re-election.

So it looks like the FOX news funded grass roots pack of mis-informed fools is going to finish destroying the GOP. Good for them. I am starting to like this tea bag movement. They are even backing the antigun pro-abortionist in the Illinois senate run. That should please the chistian right jihadist.

I have taken the liberty of grinding up John McCain, and fashioning what's left of his bones into nails, which I now pound into the eyes of those who say that what the GOP needs to do is run moderates.

This is our year. The Democrats have been overtaken by Serious Bad Juju. We could run old leather shoes against most of the Donks, and still beat them. But instead we will beat them with really cool conservatives who will stuff Obama's agenda where the solar wind don't blow. And that will be fun.

Wow, the base is not going along with their leaders. I wonder if maybe they have finnaly gotten smart. After Little King Georgie was crowned by daddys Suprems and that worked so well for everybody makeing more than 5 mil a year.